EIROnlineThe European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) is a monitoring instrument offering news and analysis on European industrial relations. Its aim is to collect, analyse and disseminate high-quality and up-to-date information on key developments in industrial relations in Europe. It aims primarily to serve the needs of national and European level organisations of the social partners, governmental organisations and EU institutions.Proposed merger likely to result in worlds largest oil company- February 19, 2007 In December 2006, the boards of the two largest oil companies in Norway Statoil and Norsk Hydro began formal talks on the possibility of forming a merger. The government, which has a large stake in both companies, reacted positively to the merger plans. The trade unions concerned were also supportive of the plans to merge.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/no0701019i.html Gender pay gap wider in private sector- February 19, 2007 New figures published by Statistics Norway in January 2007 show that in 2005 the average wage of women was 84.7% of the average wage of working men. This finding confirms that the wage gap in Norway has not changed significantly since 1998.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/no0701029i.html Levelling of working time differences between mothers and fathers- February 19, 2007 A new report published by Statistics Norway in January 2007 shows that there has been a reduction, albeit small, in the working time differences between mothers and fathers in the period from 1991 to 2004. Overall, however, the working time of mothers has remained surprisingly stable, despite significant efforts aimed at improving childcare facilities and parental leave arrangements.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2007/01/articles/no0701039i.html Pension reform to favour longer time in employment- February 12, 2007 In October 2006, the Norwegian government presented a white paper on a new pension system, to be established from 1 January 2010. The white paper follows on from the broad compromise reached by parliament in the spring of 2005. Moreover, the government has also put forward a resolution which will facilitate a continuation of the controversial early retirement scheme.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/11/articles/no0611019i.html Construction sector agreement extended to protect foreign workers- February 12, 2007 In November 2006, the national Tariff Board decided to make parts of the Construction Sector Agreement generally applicable to all employees in Norways building and construction sector. This decision will protect non-national workers experiencing inferior wages and working conditions to their Norwegian colleagues. The extension of the agreement was due to come into force from 1 January 2007.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/no0612029i.html Government to ban share options for managers in state-owned enterprises- February 12, 2007 The government has put forward new guidelines on management remuneration in state-owned companies, in connection with the presentation of its white paper on state ownership in December 2006. The guidelines stipulate that state-owned companies are not to make use of stock options in their management remuneration programmes.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/12/articles/no0612039i.html Supreme court redefines rules on use of temporary employment- February 5, 2007 In September 2006, the Norwegian Supreme Court made a ruling in a case involving the use of temporary employment in the form of stand-by duty employment contracts. The ruling reinforces the principle that temporary employees may not fill predictable vacancies in the workforce, and prescribes when so-called substitute or stand-by duty contracts may legitimately be used.http://www.eiro.eurofound.eu.int/2006/10/articles/no0610059i.html |